jim489558 Posted 22 March , 2009 Share Posted 22 March , 2009 Can anyone please help with information on 11 Bn RB's part in the action at Guillemont on 3 Sept 1916? I am interested in identifying start line, casualties, war diary etc jim489558@btinternet.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sotonmate Posted 23 March , 2009 Share Posted 23 March , 2009 Jim Welcome to the Forum ! War Diary is at Kew under WO95/2116 and covers from landing in France in July 1915 through to May 1919. 11 RB were in 59 Brigade of 20 Division,see this page from the Long Long Trail,which is full of information and can be accessed at top left of this page: http://www.1914-1918.net/20div.htm At the bottom of the page you will see reference to a book on the Division's war,and very reasonably priced too ! You might get casualty info there,but it will generalise in the War Diary. I am sending you a pic from a book I have,it shows the start lines for 3 September to the west of Guillemont,and some narrative involving the 11 RB. Sotonmate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MBrockway Posted 23 March , 2009 Share Posted 23 March , 2009 Jim, sotonmate is right in recommending Inglefield's History of the 20th (Light) Division, which covers Guillemont very well. You might also be interested in this Topic: The Night Before the Battle, Eve of Guillemont My GF was in 12/KRRC who were scheduled to take part in the main attack but had to hold back German attacks in the days prior to 3rd Sep which resulted in them having to pull back to regroup instead If you're lucky, Andy will also happen by soon with his usual definitive RB contribution! Cheers, Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CT-Guards Posted 23 March , 2009 Share Posted 23 March , 2009 Jim, Good luck with your info I hope you get all the info you need (you will get what you want here guaranteed). (I would take your email address off your post though). Good luck Regards Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stiletto_33853 Posted 23 March , 2009 Share Posted 23 March , 2009 Jim, What exactly do you need to know, although the 20th Divisions History by Englefield is quite good it does not go into the detail that some of the battalion war diaries do for this attack, is there a specific casualty you are looking for or general casualties for the 11th RB. Operation order No.37 states that on September 3rd the 20th Division will attack Guillemont. Frontage of attack 200 yards S. of Waterlot Farm to 200 yards S. of Arrow Copse. 59th Brigade on right of the Division. The 11th RB will attack on right of Brigade. 5th Division will be on the right of 11th RB. Both infantry advance and intense bombardment will commence at zero. Zero will be notified later. There will be five Brigade objectives:- a. T.19.c.0.1, T.25.a.0.8. to S.30.b.7.1. trenches on either side of of Sunken Road to be invcluded in this objective. b. T.19.c.2.1. to T.25.a.2.8. and thence to Eastern side of Sunken Road to T.25.a.4.1. c. From T.19.c.6.3. to T.25.a.7.7. to S.E. end of village at T.25.a.10.4. d. From Cross Roads to T.19.c.9.4.to T.25.b.1.5 point of village. e. From Cross Roads to T.20.c.2.4. to T.26.a.2.8. The 11th RB will attack on a front of 350 yards at 1st objective narrowing to 200 yards at 5th objective. Their left will rest on Down Street until 4th objective was reached. At Zero the 10th RB will leave their trenches and attack the 1st objective. Simultaneously the 11th RB at a distance of 100 yards will follow the 10th RB passing through that Battn. at 1st objective and advancing on 2nd objective which they will capture and consolidate. At zero plus 50 minutes the 11th RB will advance and capture and consolidate trenches forming 3rd Brigade objective on their front. Simultaneously the 10th RB will advance, pass through 11th RB at 3rd Brigade objective and capture and consolidate 4th brigade objective at zero plus 2 hours, the whole brigade will advance on final objective. The 10th K.R.R.C. will have its left on the Guiilemont-Combles Rd, the 11th RB will be in the centre and 10th RB on the right. The advance will be made as rapidly as possible until the Ginchy-Wedgewood Rd has been captured. Forming up Area Sherwood Trench and trenches N. of it This goes on for quite a few pages but should give you a rough idea. The Germans considered this area to be quite important. Both the 10th & 11th RB have accounts of the actions in their diaries. Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MBrockway Posted 24 March , 2009 Share Posted 24 March , 2009 Jim, Trench maps of some of the localities mentioned in the Operation Orders in Andy's post are shown in this Topic: Guiilemont Trench Map request - August 20 1916 Cheers, Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MBrockway Posted 24 March , 2009 Share Posted 24 March , 2009 Jim, Here's a wider map to give you context - the British & French lines shown are as at late July 1916: Cheers, Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MBrockway Posted 28 March , 2009 Share Posted 28 March , 2009 Pals, This Topic has moved to here: 11(S) Bn Rifle Brigade at Guillemont 3 Sept 1916, Sherwood Trench Please add any new replies there! Cheers, Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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